What’s an SSL Certificate and What are its Benefits?

An SSL Certificate refers to a collection of data files added to a server to attain a connection that’s encrypted between your server and a browser. When it is installed, a green padlock is displayed when users visit your website showing that it is secure.

What is the Difference Between HTTPS and SSL?

You may have probably already heard of the terms “SSL Certificate” or “SSL” being used interchangeably with HTTPS. They are the same for the most part. The SSL Certificate is the product you actually buy and install on your server while HTTPS is the result of having the certificate on your server.

If your website is still not secure, it needs to be. Here are the reasons why.

Improved Rankings on Google

Over 30 percent of the websites on the first page of Google are HTTPS, which is hardly surprising because the search engine has confirmed that it favors HTTPS websites.

Google would like to provide the best user experience possible for its clients, so it understandably doesn’t wish to send its users to insecure websites. Due to this reason, Google’s ranking algorithm favors HTTPS websites. If you have an insecure website, it could be getting outranked by similar but more secure websites.

Enhanced Security

Google favors HTTPS for a reason, which is to achieve the safest possible web experience for its users.

The search engine adds criteria to its ranking algorithm when it has proven to offer a better user experience. HTTPS is one such criteria that does exactly that since it helps protect your information and that of your users from hackers.

Keeping everything more secure and safer is clearly a better option for all.

Updated Browser Labels

Google is clearly leading the push for a more secure web experience and in the process, the search engine is updating the labeling for HTTPS websites in Chrome’s URL bar.

HTTP websites are currently marked with a gray information symbol indicating to users that the website is not secure if they click on it. Google will later in the year update that to include a “Not Secure” label that will be displayed in plain sight as opposed to when a user clicks on the information symbol.

Google will eventually mark plain HTTP websites with a red triangle as well as a “Not Secure” label written in red.

While the new label only means that a website is not HTTPS, users don’t fully comprehend this, and many are likely to feel uneasy after seeing that label on the websites they visit.

Higher Conversion Rate

Users might not necessarily have a full understanding of secure connections, but they understand that they want a website to be HTTP if they have to provide personal information.

A clear difference in conversion rates is evident between HTTP and HTTPS websites. However, once Google launches the new HTTP labeling, it is likely that there will be a larger difference in conversion rates between the two.

If users see those red labels, they might experience anxiety or have reservations about something as simple as entering an email address, name, and phone number into a basic lead generation form.

Increased Customer Confidence

With all the buzz about HTTPS floating around, users will be specifically looking for a secure connection when visiting websites.

A secure connection ensures that your customers enjoy peace of mind that your website is to be trusted and that their information is safe. Safe sports betting sites will use HTTPS and it’s a sign of confidence in many industries.

How Can You Switch Your Website to HTTPS with an SSL certificate?

If you are ready to switch over to HTTPS, we can handle the process for you. We are a trusted brand and our employees are experts in this process.